What is the Nagoya Protocol?

The Nagoya Protocol on Access to Genetic Resources and the Fair and Equitable Sharing of Benefits Arising from their Utilisation (ABS Protocol) is an international agreement which aims at fairly sharing the benefits arising from the utilisation of genetic/biological resources. The exploitation of genetic resources for food, medicine and other natural products is now the basis of many international companies. The ABS Protocol is one policy instrument which can arrest acts of biopiracy in vulnerable countries, as well as providing a platform to efficiently connect foreign researchers and private enterprise, with holders of traditional local knowledge and genetic resources. To date seventy-one countries are Party to the Protocol. However, in the Caribbean, only two countries have signed onto the Protocol. Trinidad and Tobago is not Party to the Protocol.

More information about the Nagoya Protocol is explained in this video. Ways in which the Nagoya Protocol can open doors for Caribbean people can be also be viewed here.